Former Fellsmere Councilman John McCants remembered

FELLSMERE — City Councilman Joel Tyson said he was pleased at the memorial turnout for his longtime friend and fellow councilman John McCants, who died Saturday.

"That chapel was standing-room only," Tyson said about the attendance for McCants' funeral service Wednesday. "Sometimes when you step away from the public limelight, people forget about you. But they didn't forget John. He really made a mark on the community."

The memories conjured from McCants' life may have included his role on the Fellsmere City Council or as deputy for the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.

"I thought the world of him," former Indian River County Sheriff Roy Raymond said. "He was always there for you."

Others may remember McCants, who died at 78, toiling away over the deep fryer for at least nine years of the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, as well as several years for the annual Sheriff's Youth Ranch barbecues.

"He enjoyed serving his fellow man," said his widow, Lillian McCants. "He was really enthusiastic about Fellsmere and its growth."

John McCants became a fervent advocate for some aspects of that growth, such as the paving of the sidewalk on the south side of County Road 512. John McCants wasn't pleased with the progress of the project a few years ago, and he let county officials know he wanted them to step it up, Tyson said.

"He was concerned about the kids having to walk along 512," Tyson said. "We started calling it Johnny's sidewalk. I'd like to see a plaque out there which says that."

While John McCants was forceful on the sidewalk issue and friends said his tall, burly appearance made him intimidating, Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker found him easy to work with when he arrived.

"He was straight forward with no hidden agenda," said Nunemaker, who became Fellsmere's city manager in 2005 while McCants was serving as mayor. "He made it easy to transition from the strong mayor form of government to the city manager form."

John McCants spent more than eight years on the council, though some aspects of politics and campaigning he didn't care for, he said in a 2006 interview.

"I put out 12 signs one year and someone complained that I had them eight inches too close to the road, " John McCants said. "I picked them back up the same day I had put them out, took them in my backyard and burned them. I haven't made any signs since then."